We calculate your payments based on your income. If you or your partner get compensation, you may need to wait before you can get a payment. Depending on your situation, you may not be able to get a payment.
Watch our video about how compensation can affect your Centrelink payment.
Lump sum preclusion period
If you get a lump sum for the loss of past or future wages, we work out the preclusion period.
A preclusion period is a period of time you may not be able to get an income support payment. This is due to compensation you got.
Weekly compensation payments
If you get weekly compensation payments at the same time as a payment from us, you’ll have to pay us back.
The compensation payer sends any repayments to Centrelink from the lump sum settlement or periodic payments you get.
Contacting us
If you’d like to talk to us about how compensation affects your payment, call our Centrelink Compensation Recovery line.
Contact numbers available on this page.
Centrelink compensation recovery
Use this line if you have queries about Centrelink Compensation Recovery.
There are other ways you may want to contact us.